From theory to practice – Vinsers cherish their every moment at USTH
"How to weigh 0.01mg of sugar?”, “What is the important application of solubility in the pharmaceutical industry?”, “How are the skeleton and other parts arranged in the human body?”, “What can be done to recycle plastic bags?”, etc. Grade 3, 4 & 5 Vinsers from Vinschool Gardenia Primary school found the answers to those questions and gained further insights into things they hardly know about during their Science tour to the labs of the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH), also known as Vietnam - France University.
Incorporated into their Science program in Term 1 to reinforce what Vinsers learn at school, this tour gave them a chance to visit world-class labs in person. Vinsers were able to touch specialized laboratory instruments with their own hands, and create simple, yet highly applicable science-technology products by themselves.
Grade 3 Vinsers dived deep into the current status of environmental pollution and learned about measures to reduce, reuse and recycle domestic waste and how to build a mini water filtration system from scraps such as plastic bottles, sand, stones, gravels, coal, etc. Furthermore, they investigated the musculoskeletal system of an adult via a life-size human body model, thereby knowing how to protect themselves and boost their physical growth.
Meanwhile, Grade 4 Vinsers explored the diversity of plants and made specimens of their favorites. They also worked with different temperature measuring devices, including those which help measure temperatures of hundreds of degrees Celsius, and operated a specialized furnace to melt used plastic bags at the temperature of 180oC – 200oC, thus having a better awareness of the importance of thermal conversion technology. The method of burning waste for energy is employed by Singapore, and Vinsers learned that through a subject called Global Citizenship Education (GCED).
The Phong, Class 4A5, shared: “I like the melting experiment most. If all plastic waste is recycled, we can protect our environment and animals from its impacts”.
Grade 5 Vinsers were excited about using the scale with 0.01mg accuracy when practicing their knowledge of solubility and saturation. They also learned about the importance of solubility in everyday life, especially in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, and studied the anatomy of the musculoskeletal, nervous, digestive, and respiratory systems via a life-size human body model.
Undeniably, this Science tour was very interesting and useful for Vinsers. Tuan Kiet, Class 5A1, said: “Since I was a little boy, I’ve been wondering how the organs are arranged in my abdomen and chest. Today I have found the answer. How wonderful it feels to be able to disassemble and reassemble every single part all by myself!”.
Gia Hai, Class 5A2, shared: “I really admire the students and lecturers at Vietnam – France University. I wish to become a scientist who can invent new technologies and help make the world a better place. My dream is to create a smartphone which produces one-of-a-kind photos: photos that give users an idea of the smell and taste of the food they eat”.
As the Science tour planner and guide, Dr. Nguyen Hong Nam, Head of General Education Department at USTH, shared: “I am particularly impressed by the proactiveness and inquisitiveness of Vinsers and highly appreciate the fact that they are given opportunities to put what they learn into practice. A young tree needs proper care to grow well and produce good fruits; similarly, passion for science should be instilled in young children so they can make great achievements down the road. I hope the very first experiences Vinsers had in our labs will inspire them to become contributors to the science and technology development of Vietnam”.
